Bill Drummond named to replace Steve Wright as Bonneville Power Administration administrator

The U.S. Energy Department announced Wednesday that Bill Drummond will be the new administrator for the Bonneville Power Administration.

He will replace current Administrator Steve Wright, who retires at the end of January.

BPA is the key player in the regional energy market. It sells power from 31 federal hydroelectric dams and a nuclear plant, directly supplying 140 public utilities. It controls three-quarters of the region's transmission network, so its operations, policies and strategic direction impact every utility, and every consumer, in the region.

The administrator must balance multiple, competing and very passionate interests, not only in the public and private utility sphere, but environmental, industrial, tribal, recreational and agricultural groups. BPA, for instance, is the focus of efforts to restore endangered salmon, to increase energy efficiency and to integrate more renewable energy into the region's energy mix.

Drummond currently is BPA deputy administrator and has worked in the energy industry for more than 30 years, including as manager of the Western Montana Electric Generating and Transmission Cooperative for 17 years and as leader of the Public Power Council.